Bacillus thuringiensis isolates with broad spectrum activity

ABSTRACT

A broad spectrum Bacillus strain is provided which displays activity against at least two orders of insects. Novel proteins active against corn rootworm and nematodes and methods of isolation are additionally provided. Also provided is a purified crystal protein complex isolated from a Bacillus strain that demonstrates insecticidal properties. In addition, the nucleotide and amino acid sequence of the Cry1I gene isolated from this strain is provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of Provisional application Ser. No. 60/035,361 filed Jan. 10, 1997.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel Bacillus thuringiensis strains, to novel toxin genes, to the proteins encoded by the genes, and to the use of genes and proteins.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bacillus thunringiensis is a gram-positive soil bacterium characterized by its ability to produce crystalline inclusions during sporulation. The crystalline inclusions can, in some subspecies, account for 20 to 30 percent of the dry weight of the sporulated cell and may be composed of more than one protein. Crystals are composed primarily of a single polypeptide, a protoxin, which may also be a component of the spore coat. The protoxin genes are located mainly on large plasmids, although chromosomally encoded endotoxins have been reported.

The crystal proteins exhibit a highly specific insecticidal activity. Many B. thuringiensis strains with different insect host spectra have been identified. They are classified into different serotypes or subspecies based on their flagellar antigens.

The protoxin does not exhibit its insecticidal activity until after oral intake of the crystalline body. The crystal is dissolved in the intestinal juice of the target insects. In most cases, the actual target component (toxin) is released from the protoxin as a result of proteolytic cleavage caused by the action of proteases from the digestive tract of the insects. The activated toxin interacts with the midgut epithelium cells of susceptible insects.

Electrophysiological and biochemical evidence suggests that the toxins generate pores in the cell membrane, thus disrupting the osmotic balance. Consequently, the cells swell and lyse. For several B. thuringensis toxins, specific high-affinity binding sites have been demonstrated to exist on the midgut epithelium of susceptible insects. Nucleotide sequences have been recorded for a large number of B. thuringiensis (Bt) crystal protein genes. Several sequences are nearly identical, and have been designated as variations of the same gene. The crystal protein (Cry) genes specify a family of related insecticidal proteins. The genes are divided into major classes and subclasses characterized by both the structural similarities and the insecticidal spectra of the encoded proteins. The classification, explained by Hofte and Whiteley (1989) Microbiol. Rev., 53:242-255, placed the known insecticidal crystal proteins into four major classes. The four major classes were Lepidoptera-specific (I), Lepidoptera- and Diptera-specific (II), Coleoptera-specific (III), and Diptera-specific (IV) genes. Additional classes have since been added.

The Cry1 genes are undoubtedly the best-studied crystal proteins. The Cry1 proteins are typically produced as 130 to 140 kDa protoxin proteins which are proteolitically cleaved to produce active toxin proteins about 60 to 70 Kda. The active portion or toxic domain is localized in the N-terminal half of the protoxin. Six groups of Cry1 proteins were known in 1989 when the Hofte and Whiteley article was published. These groups were designated IA(a), IA(b), IA(c), IB, IC, and ID. Since 1989, additional proteins have been discovered and classified as Cry1E, Cry1F, Cry1G, Cry1H, and Cry1X.

The spectrum of insecticidal activity of an individual protoxin from Bt tends to be quite narrow. That is, a given crystal protein is active against only a few insects. None of the crystal proteins active against Coleopteran larvae such as colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) or yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) have demonstrated significant effects on members of the genus Diabrotica particularly D. virgifera virgifera, the western corn rootworm (WCRW) or D. longicornis barberi, the northern corn rootworm.

Insect pests are a major factor in the loss of the world's commercially important agricultural crops. Broad spectrum chemical pesticides have been used extensively to control or eradicate pests of agricultural importance. However, there is substantial interest in developing effective alternative pesticides.

Microbial pesticides have played an important role as alternatives to chemical pest control. The most extensively used microbial product is based on the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. However, as noted above, the majority of Bt strains have a narrow range of activity. There is therefore needed microbial strains with a broad range of insecticidal activity for use as broad spectrum insecticides and as a source for additional toxin genes and proteins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A broad spectrum Bacillus strain is provided. The strain is active against insects from at least the orders Lepidoptera, Diptera, and Coleoptera. Additionally, the strain is active against nematodes, and rootworms. Disclosed in this invention is the isolation and partial purification of the crystal protein complex from this strain. The crystal protein complex is demonstrated to be active against rootworms and other pests. Genes, proteins, and their use, as well as the use of the strain are provided. The complete nucleotide sequence of a Cry5-like gene herein designated as Cry1I which was isolated from this strain is also provided.

The methods and compositions of the invention may be used in a variety of systems for controlling pests, particularly plant pests.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1A-1B FIG. 1A shows an electron micrograph with a light micrograph insert;

FIG. 1B shows an electron micrograph with the different kinds of crystal shapes as indicated by the arrows or arrow heads. The three types of crystal shapes may correlate with the three kinds of insecticidal activity toward at least three insect orders, namely: Lepidoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera.

FIG. 2 Plasmid profile of BtC-18. Lane a: DNA molecular weight standards; Lane b: B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki; Lane c: Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawia; and, Lane d: strain C-18. BtC-18 also has different plasmid DNA profiles from the other known B. thuringiensis subspecies, such as subspecies israelensis and tenebrionis, (data not shown).

FIGS. 3A-3B Protective effect of BtC-18 against the root nematode Meloidogyne incognata. In panel A: the roots of infected tomato plant with the nematode (positive control). panel B: the roots of tomato plants infected with nematode eggs before BtC-18 was applied, and panel C: roots of plant treated first with BtC-18 and then infected with nematode eggs.

FIGS. 4A-4B PCR product profile of BtC-18. In FIG. 4A: Lane a contains DNA molecular weight standards; Lane b, B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki; Lane c, BtC-18; Lane d: B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis; Lane e, BtC-18. In FIG. 4B: Lane a contains DNA standards; Lane f, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis; Lane g, BtC-18. The results show that BtC-18 produced the same PCR product profile as B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, but different PCR products with Dipteran and Coleopteran DNA primers.

FIGS. 5A-5E. Nucleotide and amino acid sequence of the Cry1I gene isolated from BtC-18. See also SEQ ID NOS 1 & 2 respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Compositions and methods for controlling plant pests are provided. In particular, novel broad spectrum Bacillus strains having a wide range of insecticidal activity are provided. The strains are useful as insecticidal agents. In addition, the crystal protein complex from one of these strains has been purified and is shown to be have insecticidal properties. Methods of its purification are discussed and evidence of its activity against rootworm is disclosed. Also disclosed is the entire nucleotide sequence of a Cry5-like gene herein designated as Cry1I which was isolated from this strain.

The Bacillus strain of the invention has a broad spectrum of activity. By broad spectrum it is intended that the strains are active against insects from more than one order, preferably against insects from several orders, more preferably active against insects from at least three orders. Additionally, the strains are active against noninsect pests. For purposes of the present invention, pests include but are not limited to insects, fungi, bacteria, nematodes, mites, ticks, and the like. Insect pests include insects selected from the orders Coleoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Mallophaga, Homoptera, Hemiptera, Orthroptera, Thysanoptera, Dermaptera, Isoptera, Anoplura, Siphonaptera, Trichoptera, etc., particularly Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and Diptera.

In one embodiment, the invention encompasses the Bt isolate known as BtC-18, deposited Dec. 31, 1996 as ATCC (10801 University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, USA) Accession No. 55922. Protein toxins, and DNA which encodes the protein toxins are additionally encompassed. The subject invention also includes variants of the Bt isolate which have substantially the same pesticidal properties as the exemplified isolate. These variants include mutants and recombinant isolates. Procedures for making mutants are well known in the art and include ultraviolet light and nitrosoguanidine.

The Bacillus thuringiensis isolate C-18 produces more than one kind of crystal protein during sporulation. Microscopic examination of the sporulated cells revealed at least three different shapes of crystals: bipyrmidal similar to the lepidopteran-specific B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki; circular or irregular as that produced by dipteran-specific B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis; and rhomboid-shaped similar to the coleopteran-specific B. thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis.

The presence of the different types of crystals indicated that the bacterium can kill insects belonging to more than one order of insects. Bioassays confirmed that conclusion. The spore-crystal complex of C-18 killed insects from at least three orders, Lepidoptera, Diptera, and Coleoptera. Generally, Bt's produce only a single crystal and therefore have limited insect activity. Of the Bt's which have been reported to kill insects from two orders, the activity is not stable. In contrast, the present Bt has been shown to be highly stable.

Of particular interest is the corn rootworm activity exhibited by the Bacillus strains of the invention. Generally, Bt's have little or no rootworm activity. In contrast, the present strain exhibits substantial rootworm activity. By substantial activity is intended that the protein is capable of killing the target insect when present in at least microgram (μg) quantities.

Methods are available in the art for the identification and isolation of the protein or proteins associated with insecticidal activity, i.e., rootworm activity. Generally, proteins can be purified by conventional chromatography, including gel-filtration, ion-exchange, and immunoaffinity chromatography, by high-performance liquid chromatography, such as reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography, size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography, high-performance chromatofocusing and hydrophobic interaction chromatography, etc., by electrophoretic separation, such as one-dimensional gel electrophoresis, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, etc. Such methods are known in the art. See for example, Ausubel et al. (1988) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vols. 1 & 2, (eds.) John Wiley & Sons, NY.

Additionally, antibodies can be prepared against substantially pure preparations of the protein. See, for example, Radka et al. (1983) J. Immunol., 128:2804; and Radka et al. (1984) Immunogenetics, 19:63. Any combination of methods may be utilized to purify protein having pesticidal properties, particularly rootworm activity. As the protocol is being formulated, insecticidal activity is determined after each purification step to assure the presence of the toxin of interest.

Methods are available in the art to assay for insect activity. Generally, the protein is mixed and used in feeding assays. See, for example Marrone et al. (1985) J. of Economic Entomology, 78:290-293.

Such purification steps will result in a substantially purified protein fraction. By "substantially purified" or "substantially pure" is intended protein which is substantially free of any compound normally associated with the protein in its natural state. "Substantially pure" preparations of protein can be assessed by the absence of other detectable protein bands following SDS-PAGE as determined visually or by densitometry scanning. Alternatively, the absence of other amino-terminal sequences or N-terminal residues in a purified preparation can indicate the level of purity. Purity can be verified by rechromatography of "pure" preparations showing the absence of other peaks by ion exchange, reverse phase or capillary electrophoresis. The terms "substantially pure" or "substantially purified" are not meant to exclude artificial or synthetic mixtures of the proteins with other compounds. The terms are also not meant to exclude the presence of minor impurities which do not interfere with the biological activity of the protein, and which may be present, for example, due to incomplete purification.

Once purified protein is isolated, the protein, or the polypeptides of which it is comprised, can be characterized and sequenced by standard methods known in the art. For example, the purified protein, or the polypeptides of which it is comprised, may be fragmented as with cyanogen bromide, or with proteases such as papain, chymotrypsin, trypsin, lysyl-C endopeptidase, etc. (Oike et al. (1982) J. Biol. Chem., 257:9751-9758; Liu et al. (1983) Int. J. Pept. Protein Res., 21:209-215). The resulting peptides are separated, preferably by HPLC, or by resolution of gels and electroblotting onto PVDF membranes, and subjected to amino acid sequencing. To accomplish this task, the peptides are preferably analyzed by automated sequencers. It is recognized that N-terminal, C-terminal, or internal amino acid sequences can be determined. From the amino acid sequence of the purified protein, a nucleotide sequence can be synthesized which can be used as a probe to aid in the isolation of the gene encoding the pesticidal protein.

Similar protocols can be utilized to isolate nematode active proteins, rootworm active proteins, or proteins having activity to other pests.

It is recognized that the pesticidal proteins may be oligomeric and will vary in molecular weight, number of protomers, component peptides, activity against particular pests, and in other characteristics. However, by the methods set forth herein, proteins active against a variety of insects or pests may be isolated and characterized.

Once the purified protein has been isolated and characterized it is recognized that it may be altered in various ways including amino acid substitutions, deletions, truncations, and insertions. Methods for such manipulations are generally known in the art. For example, amino acid sequence variants of the pesticidal proteins can be prepared by mutations in the DNA. Such variants will possess the desired pesticidal activity. Obviously, the mutations that will be made in the DNA encoding the variant must not place the sequence out of reading frame and preferably will not create complementary regions that could produce secondary mRNA structure. See, EP Patent Application Publication No. 75,444.

In this manner, the present invention encompasses the active rootworm proteins, and other insecticidal and pesticidal proteins, as well as components and fragments thereof. That is, it is recognized that component protomers, polypeptides or fragments of the proteins may be produced which retain pesticidal activity. These fragments include truncated sequences, as well as N-terminal, C-terminal, internal and internally deleted amino acid sequences of the proteins.

Most deletions, insertions, and substitutions of the protein sequence are not expected to produce radical changes in the characteristics of the pesticidal protein. However, when it is difficult to predict the exact effect of the substitution, deletion, or insertion in advance of doing so, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the effect will be evaluated by routine screening assays.

The proteins or other component polypeptides described herein may be used alone or in combination. That is, several proteins may be used to control different insect pests.

The pesticidal proteins of the invention can be used in combination with Bt toxins or other insecticidal proteins to increase insect target range. Other insecticidal principles include protease inhibitors (both serine and cysteine types), lectins, α-amylase and peroxidase. This co-expression of more than one insecticidal principle in the same transgenic plant can be achieved by genetically engineering a plant to contain and express all the genes necessary. Alternatively, separate plants can be transformed with different components. By crossing the plants, progeny are obtained which express all of the genes of interest.

It is recognized that there are alternative methods available to obtain the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the present proteins. For example, to obtain the nucleotide sequence encoding the pesticidal protein, cosmid clones, which express the pesticidal protein, can be isolated from a genomic library. From larger active cosmid clones, smaller subclones can be made and tested for activity. In this manner, clones which express an active pesticidal protein can be sequenced to determine the nucleotide sequence of the gene. Then, an amino acid sequence can be deduced for the protein. For general molecular methods, see, for example, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, Second Edition, Vols. 1-3, Sambrook et al. (eds.) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1989), and the references cited therein.

The present invention also encompasses nucleotide sequences from other Bacillus strains and organisms other than Bacillus, where the nucleotide sequences are isolatable by hybridization with the Bacillus nucleotide sequences of the invention. Proteins encoded by such nucleotide sequences can be tested for pesticidal activity. The invention also encompasses the proteins encoded by the nucleotide sequences. Furthermore, the invention encompasses proteins obtained from organisms other than Bacillus wherein the protein cross-reacts with antibodies raised against the proteins of the invention. Again the isolated proteins can be assayed for pesticidal activity by the methods disclosed herein or others well-known in the art.

In this manner, the insecticidal genes of the present invention include those coding for proteins homologous to, and having essentially the same biological properties as, the insecticidal genes disclosed herein, and particularly the rootworm active gene. This definition is intended to encompass natural allelic variations in the genes. Cloned genes of the present invention can be of other species of origin. Thus, DNAs which hybridize to the present insecticidal genes are also an aspect of this invention. Conditions which will permit other DNAs to hybridize to the DNA disclosed herein can be determined in accordance with known techniques. For example, hybridization of such sequences may be carried out under conditions of reduced stringency, medium stringency or even stringent conditions (e.g., conditions represented by a wash stringency of 35-40% Formamide with 5× Denhardt's solution, 0.5% SDS and 1× SSPE at 37° C.; conditions represented by a wash stringency of 40-45% Formamide with 5× Denhardt's solution, 0.5% SDS, and 1× SSPE at 42° C.; and conditions represented by a wash stringency of 50% Formamide with 5× Denhardt's solution, 0.5% SDS and 1× SSPE at 42° C., respectively, to DNA encoding the insecticidal genes disclosed herein in a standard hybridization assay. See J. Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual (2d Ed. 1989)(Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)). In general, sequences which code for insecticidal protein and hybridize to the insecticidal gene disclosed herein will be at least 75% homologous, 85% homologous, and even 95% homologous or more with the sequences. Further, DNAs which code for insecticidal proteins, or sequences which code for an insecticidal protein coded for by a sequence which hybridizes to the DNAs which code for insecticidal genes disclosed herein, but which differ in codon sequence from these due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, are also an aspect of this invention. The degeneracy of the genetic code, which allows different nucleic acid sequences to code for the same protein or peptide, is well known in the literature. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5 4,757,006 to Toole et al. at Col. 2, Table 1.

The hybridization probes may be cDNA fragments or oligonucleotides, and may be labeled with a detectable group as discussed hereinbelow. Pairs of probes which will serve as PCR primers for the insecticidal gene or a protein thereof may be used in accordance with the process described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,683,202 and 4,683,195.

Once the nucleotide sequences encoding the pesticidal proteins of the invention have been isolated, they can be manipulated and used to express the protein in a variety of hosts including other organisms, including microorganisms and plants.

The pesticidal genes of the invention can be optimized for enhanced expression in plants. See, for example, EPA 0359472; EPA 0385962; WO 91/16432; Perlak et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88:3324-3328; and Murray et al. (1989) Nucleic Acids Research 17:477-498. In this manner, the genes can be synthesized utilizing plant preferred codons. That is the preferred codon for a particular host is the single codon which most frequently encodes that amino acid in that host. The maize preferred codon, for example, for a particular amino acid may be derived from known gene sequences from maize. Maize codon usage for 28 genes from maize plants is found in Murray et al. (1989) Nucleic Acids Research, 17:477-498, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Synthetic genes can also be made based on the distribution of codons a particular host uses for a particular amino acid.

In this manner, the nucleotide sequences can be optimized for expression in any plant. It is recognized that all or any part of the gene sequence may be optimized or synthetic. That is, synthetic or partially optimized sequences may also be used.

In like manner, the nucleotide sequences can be optimized for expression in any microorganism. For Bacillus preferred codon usage, see, for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,837 and Johansen et al. (1988) Gene, 65:293-304.

Methodologies for the construction of plant expression cassettes as well as the introduction of foreign DNA into plants are described in the art. Such expression cassettes may include promoters, terminators, enhancers, leader sequences, introns and other regulatory sequences operably linked to the pesticidal protein coding sequence.

Methodologies for the construction of plant expression cassettes are described in the art. The construct may include any necessary regulators such as terminators, (Guerineau et al. (1991) Mol. Gen. Genet., 226:141-144; Proudfoot (1991) Cell, 64:671-674; Sanfacon et al. (1991) Genes Dev., 5:141-149; Mogen et al. (1990) Plant Cell, 2:1261-1272; Munroe et al. (1990) Gene, 91:151-158; Ballas et al. (1989) Nucleic Acids Res., 17:7891-7903; Joshi et al. (1987) Nucleic Acid Res., 15:9627-9639); plant translational consensus sequences (Joshi, C. P. (1987) Nucleic Acids Research, 15:6643-6653), enhancers, introns (Luehrsen and Walbot (1991) Mol. Gen. Genet., 225:81-93) and the like, operably linked to the nucleotide sequence. It may be beneficial to include 5' leader sequences in the expression cassette construct. Such leader sequences can act to enhance translation. See, for example, (Elroy-Stein et al. (1989) PNAS USA, 86:6126-6130), Allison et al. (1986), Macejak and Sarnow (1991) Nature, 353:90-94, Jobling and Gehrke (1987) Nature, 325:622-625, Gallie et al. (1989) Molecular Biology of RNA, pp. 237-256, Lommel et al. (1991) Virology, 81:382-385, and Della-Cioppa et al. (1987) Plant Physiology, 84:965-968.

It is further recognized that the components of the expression cassette may be modified to increase expression. For example, truncated sequences, nucleotide substitutions or other modifications may be employed. See, for example Perlak et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 88:3324-3328; Murray et al. (1989) Nucleic Acids Research, 17:477-498; and WO 91/16432.

For tissue specific expression, the nucleotide sequences of the invention can be operably linked to tissue specific promoters.

Methods are available in the art for the introduction and stable incorporation of the expression cassettes into plants. Suitable methods of transforming plant cells include microinjection (Crossway et al. (1986) Biotechniques, 4:320-334), electroporation (Riggs et al. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 83:5602-5606, Agrobacterium mediated transformation (Hinchee et al. (1988) Biotechnology, 6:915-921), direct gene transfer (Paszkowski et al. (1984) EMBO J., 3:2717-2722), and ballistic particle acceleration (see, for example, Sanford et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,050; WO91/10725 and McCabe et al. (1988) Biotechnology, 6:923-926). Also see, Weissinger et al. (1988) Annual Rev. Genet., 22:421-477; Sanford et al. (1987) Particulate Science and Technology, 5:27-37 (onion); Christou et al. (1988) Plant Physiol. 87:671-674 (soybean); McCabe et al. (1988) Bio/Technology, 6:923-926 (soybean); Datta et al. (1990) Biotechnology, 8:736-740 (rice); Klein et al. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 85:4305-4309 (maize); Klein et al. (1988) Biotechnology, 6:559-563 (maize); WO91/10725 (maize); Klein et al. (1988) Plant Physiol., 91:440-444 (maize); Fromm et al. (1990) Biotechnology, 8:833-839; and Gordon-Kamm et al. (1990) Plant Cell, 2:603-618 (maize); Hooydaas-Van Slogteren & Hooykaas (1984) Nature (London), 311:763-764; Bytebier et al. (1987) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84:5345-5349 (Liliaceae); De Wet et al. (1985) In The Experimental Manipulation of Ovule Tissues, ed. G. P. Chapman et al. pp. 197-209. Longman, N.Y. (pollen); Kaeppler et al. (1990) Plant Cell Reports, 9:415-418; and Kaeppler et al. (1992) Theor. Appl. Genet., 84:560-566 (whisker-mediated transformation); D'Halluin et al. (1992) Plant Cell, 4:1495-1505 (electroporation); Li et al. (1993) Plant Cell Reports, 12:250-255 and Christou and Ford (1995) Annals of Botany, 75:407-413 (rice); Osjoda et al. (1996) Nature Biotechnology, 14:745-750 (maize via Agrobacterium tumefaciens); all of which are herein incorporated by reference.

Alternatively, the plant plastid can be transformed directly. Stable transformation of plastids have been reported in higher plants, see, for example, Svab et al. (1990) Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA, 87:8526-8530; Svab & Maliga (1993) Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA, 90:913-917; Staub & Maliga (1993) EMBO J., 12:601-606. The method relies on particular gun delivery of DNA containing a selectable marker and targeting of the DNA to the plastid genome through homologous recombination. Additionally, plastid transformation can be accomplished by trans-activation of a silent plastid-borne transgene by tissue-specific expression of a nuclear-encoded and plastid-directed RNA polymerase. Such a system has been reported in McBride et al. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA, 91:7301-7305.

The cells which have been transformed may be grown into plants in accordance with conventional ways. See, for example, McCormick et al. (1986) Plant Cell Reports, 5:81-84 (1986). These plants may then be grown, and either pollinated with the same transformed strainer or different strains, and the resulting hybrid having the desired phenotypic characteristic identified. Two or more generations may be grown to ensure that the subject phenotypic characteristic is stably maintained and inherited and then seeds harvested to ensure the desired phenotype or other property has been achieved.

The Bacillus strains of the invention may be used for protecting agricultural crops and products from pests. Alternatively, a gene encoding the pesticide may be introduced via a suitable vector into a microbial host, and said host applied to the environment or plants or animals. Microorganism hosts may be selected which are known to occupy the "phytosphere" (phylloplane, phyllosphere, rhizosphere, and/or rhizoplana) of one or more crops of interest. These microorganisms are selected so as to be capable of successfully competing in the particular environment with the wild-type microorganisms, provide for stable maintenance and expression of the gene expressing the polypeptide pesticide, and, desirably, provide for improved protection of the pesticide from environmental degradation and inactivation.

A number of methods are available for introducing a gene expressing the pesticidal protein into the microorganism host under conditions which allow for stable maintenance and expression of the gene. For example, expression cassettes can be constructed which include the DNA constructs of interest operably linked with the transcriptional and translational regulatory signals for expression of the DNA constructs, and a DNA sequence homologous with a sequence in the host organism, whereby integration will occur, and/or a replication system which is functional in the host, whereby integration or stable maintenance will occur.

Transcriptional and translational regulatory signals include but are not limited to promoter, transcriptional initiation start site, operators, activators, enhancers, other regulatory elements, ribosomal binding sites, an initiation codon, termination signals, and the like. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,523; U.S. Pat. No. 4,853,331; EPO 0480762A2; Sambrook et al. supra; Molecular Cloning, a Laboratory Manual, Maniatis et al. (eds) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1982); Advanced Bacterial Genetics, Davis et al. (eds.) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. (1980); and the references cited therein.

General methods for employing the strains of the invention in pesticide control or in engineering other organisms as pesticidal agents are known in the art. See, for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,523 and EP 0480762A2.

The Bacillus strains of the invention or the microorganisms which have been genetically altered to contain the pesticidal gene and protein may be used for protecting agricultural crops and products from pests. In one aspect of the invention, whole, i.e., unlysed, cells of a toxin (pesticide)-producing organism are treated with reagents that prolong the activity of the toxin produced in the cell when the cell is applied to the environment of target pest(s).

Alternatively, the pesticides are produced by introducing a heterologous gene into a cellular host. Expression of the heterologous gene results, directly or indirectly, in the intracellular production and maintenance of the pesticide. These cells are then treated under conditions that prolong the activity of the toxin produced in the cell when the cell is applied to the environment of target pest(s). The resulting product retains the toxicity of the toxin. These naturally encapsulated pesticides may then be formulated in accordance with conventional techniques for application to the environment hosting a target pest, e.g., soil, water, and foliage of plants. See, for example EPA 0192319, and the references cited therein.

The active ingredients of the present invention are normally applied in the form of compositions and can be applied to the crop area or plant to be treated, simultaneously or in succession, with other compounds. These compounds can be both fertilizers or micronutrient donors or other preparations that influence plant growth. They can also be selective herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, bacteriocides, nematocides, mollusocides or mixtures of several of these preparations, if desired, together with further agriculturally acceptable carriers, surfactants or application-promoting adjuvants customarily employed in the art of formulation. Suitable carriers and adjuvants can be solid or liquid and correspond to the substances ordinarily employed in formulation technology, e.g. natural or regenerated mineral substances, solvents, dispersants, wetting agents, tackifiers, binders or fertilizers.

Preferred methods of applying an active ingredient of the present invention or an agrochemical composition of the present invention which contains at least one of the pesticidal proteins produced by the bacterial strains of the present invention are leaf application, seed coating and soil application. The number of applications and the rate of application depend on the intensity of infestation by the corresponding pest.

The following experiments are offered by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

EXPERMENTAL

Introduction

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) strain C-18 is a gram-positive sporeforming bacterium that produces parasporal crystals which have multiple toxicity against three orders of insects: Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Diptera as well as to nematodes. C-18 is unique because of its capacity to kill such a wide range of agriculturally and biomedically important pests. No other Bt strain or isolate has been reported to have such a wide host range. The vast majority of Bt's can kill insects belonging to only one order of insects.

Isolation

C-18 was isolated in Egypt from dead pink bollworm larvae harvested from cotton bolls grown in cotton fields in Egypt. Standard bacteriological procedures were used to isolate gram-positive, spore forming bacteria. The larvae were washed twice with sterile deionized water, transferred to fresh sterile water (1 ml), macerated with a sterile glass-rod before being subjected to a heat treatment (5 min. at 100° C.). The heat treatment killed all the vegetative and non-sporulating microbes. 100 ul samples were then streaked onto LB-agar plates and incubated at 30° C. overnight. Individual colonies were then picked, streaked onto fresh sporulating medium and incubated at 30° C. for 48 hours.

The resulting colonies were stained with endospore stain and examined microscopically. All standard bacteriological techniques including physiological and biochemical reactions were employed to determine the identity of the isolates and only those which matched Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) were subjected to detailed analysis and evaluation. Among the isolates selected for determining insecticidal and nematocidal activities was C-18.

A unique aspect of the isolate C-18 was its ability to produce more than one kind of protein crystal during sporulation. Microscopic examination of the stained sporulated cells revealed at least three different shapes of crystals: bipyrimidial similar to the lepidopteran-specific B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki; circular or irregular as that produced by B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis; and, rhomboid-shaped similar to the B. thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis (FIG. 1 A&B).

Insect & Nematode Bioassays

The insecticidal activity of C-18 was measured using bioassays involving a variety of insects that represent the Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Diptera orders of insects. Initial insect bioassays were performed with whole bacterial cells and included the raspberry silkworm Philosamia ricini (Lepidopteran), the mosquito Culex pipiens (Dipteran), and the flour beetle Tribollium spp. (Coleopteran). Nematode bioassays were done with the tomato nematode Melodogyne incognata. Positive results from these bioassays Table 1 prompted a more comprehensive analysis of the insecticidal and nematocidal activities of C-18 parasporal crystals. As can be seen in Table 1, C-18 is effective against a broad spectrum of insects. Also parasporal crystals purified from C-18 exhibited the same nematocidal activity as the whole organism (FIG. 1).

A more comprehensive bioassay system using larger numbers of insects representing the three orders mentioned above was then performed.

In Table 1, bioassays were divided into three groups. Group I contains the results of the lepidopteran insects (cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis, cotton bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella, tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta, raspberry silk worm Philosamia ricini, and a corn borer Sesamia cratica). Group II includes dipteran insects (mosquitoes Culex pipiens, Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Aedes triseriatus, and a blue tongue virus vector: Culicoides variipennis). Group III represents the coleopteran insects (flour beetle Tribolliumn spp., Colorado potato beetle Leptinotarsa decemlineata, western corn rootworm Diabortica virgifera and southern corn rootworm D. undecimpuncata howardi).

The bacterium was also tested against the nematode Melodogyne incognata (FIG. 3).

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Pesticidal Activities of an Egyptian Isolate                                   Bacillus thuringiensis (BtC-18)                                                INSECT          BtC-18  BTK     BTI  BTT                                       ______________________________________                                         Group I: Lepidopteran-insects                                                  Spodoptera littotalis.sup.1                                                                    10.00   40.00   0.0  0.0                                       Pectinophera gossypiella.sup.1                                                                 0.45    40.00   0.0  0.0                                       Manduca sexta.sup.1                                                                            0.45    7.00    0.0  0.0                                       Philosamia ricini.sup.1                                                                        0.43    3.00    0.0  0.0                                       Sessemia cratia.sup.1                                                                          20.00   30.00   0.0  0.0                                       Group II: Dipteran-insects                                                     Culex pipiens.sup.2                                                                            7.00    0.0     5.50 0.0                                       Aedes aegypti.sup.2                                                                            200.00  0.0     40.00                                                                               0.0                                       Aedes albopictus.sup.2                                                                         36.00   0.0     nd   0.0                                       Aedes triseriatus.sup.2                                                                        360.00  0.0     nd   0.0                                       Culicoides variipennis.sup.2                                                                   18.00   0.0     NO   0.0                                       Group III: Coleopteran-insects                                                 Tribollium sp..sup.3                                                                           35.00   0.0     0.0  30.00                                     Colorado Potato Beetle1                                                                        50.00   0.0     0.0  25.00                                     Western Corn Rootworm.sup.1                                                                    350.00  0.0     0.0  8,000.00                                  Southern Corn Rootworm.sup.1                                                                   350.00  0.0     0.0  10,000.00                                 ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 The LC50 is expressed in ng/cm..sup.2                                   .sup.2 The LC50 is expressed in ng/ml.                                         .sup.3 The LC50 is expressed in ng/g.                                          * BtC18 also exhibited toxic activity against Nematodes.                 

Microscopic Examination of C-18

C-18 produces at least three morphological types of parasporal crystals (FIG. 1). The three types or shapes are: (i) bipyrimidal--characteristic of those crystals that are toxic to lepidopterans, (ii) rounded, amorphous clusters--characteristic of dipteran-specific crystals, and (iii) rhomboid--characteristic of coleopteran-specific crystals. Presence of these three morphological crystal types correlate with the three kinds of insecticidal activities normally associated singularly with all other Bt's described in the scientific literature.

Profile of Proteins Extracted from Vegetative & Sporulating Cells of C-18

The molecular characterization of BtC-18 was determined at the protein and the gene levels. Bacillus thuringiensis has two phases of growth, the vegetative phase and the sporulation phase. The bacterium produces a specific protein pool during each phase of growth. The proteins are the expression products of active genes at the specific stage of development. These proteins can be separated and visualized on a sodium dedocylsulphate-polyacrylamide gel by electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE).

Proteins of vegetative and sporulating cells of the various strains of Bt described in the literature have common and characteristic banding patterns when analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. To determine whether C-18 has a distinctive protein profile of its own, proteins extracted from both vegetative and sporulating cells were examined by this technique and compared with Bt subspecies kurstaki (lepidopteran-specific), israeliensis (dipteran-specific), and tenebrionsis (coleopteran-specific). C-18 does, indeed, have distinctive protein profiles when compared with several other commonly known subspecies of Bt.

Immunochemical Staining of Crystal Proteins

Western analysis of purified crystal proteins from C-18 was performed and proteins identified by this technique were compared with the same three subspecies of Bt mentioned above. Although there are some similarities among the four organisms, C-18 does exhibit a distinctive and characteristic crystal protein profile.

Plasmid DNA Profiles

Genes responsible for encoding insecticidal proteins that constitute parasporal crystals of Bt usually are associated with plasmid DNA although there is evidence that such genes are chromosomally linked as well. The plasmids purified from C-18 are displayed in FIG. 2. The plasmid profile of C-18 is distinctive when compared to the profiles of the same three subspecies of Bt indicated above.

This bacterium contains large number of plasmid DNA molecules. The majority of the toxin genes have been reported to be carried on one of the large plasmids, however, few have been reported on the chromosome of some Bts. The plasmid profile of C-18 has been used as a tool to differentiate between bacterial species. The plasmid profile of the BtC-18 was found to be different from the other subspecies of B. thuringiensis tested as indicated in FIG. 2.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

To determine the existence of genes (Cry genes) in C-18 that may encode different insecticidal proteins (Cry proteins), specific DNA primers were constructed and used in PCR analysis of C-18 genomic DNA. The primers were custom designed against conserved regions in the genomes of the same subspecies used above. Amplification of various DNA fragments revealed that C-18 contains similar Cry1 (Lepidopteran-specific) genes as Bt subsp. kurstaki but different Cry genes that those of Bt subspecies israelensis and tenebrionis (FIG. 4).

The proof of the existence or absence of the three genes encoding the three crystals produced by BtC-18 was proven by the use of specific DNA primers (three sets, each consisting of two pairs specific for one gene) designed against conserved regions in the genomes of B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Lep1A, Lep1B, Lep2A, and Lep2B), B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Dip1A, Dip1B, Dip2A, and Dip2B) and B. thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis (Col1A, Col1B, Col2A, and Col2B).

The primers were used in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to give specific product profiles. The two pairs of Lep primers amplify a 0.49 kb and a 0.908 kb DNA fragment. The Dip primers amplify a 0.797 kb and 1.290 kb DNA fragment. The Col primers amplify a 0.649 kb and 1.060 kb DNA fragments (FIG. 4).

Western blot analysis of the crystal proteins produced by BtC-18 confirm that the crystal proteins of BtC-18 are different from the subspecies israelensis and tenebrionis.

Purification of the C18 Crystal Protein Complex and Insecticidal Properties

The BtC18 crystal complex was purified from the sporulated culture broth by Renographin gradient from the methods discussed in Lee et al. (1995) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 126: 953-960. The purified crystals were washed several times with de-ionized water to get rid of any contaminants. The crystal complex was subjected to differential solublization at various pH's according to the methods of Dai and Gill (1993) Insect Biochem. Molec. Biol. 23:273-283 and Hofte et al. (1986) Eur. J. Biochem. 161:273-280 and fractions (F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, and F6) obtained from this procedure were bioassayed against corn rootworms (southern and western) as representative of coleopteran insects and tobacco hornworm as lepidopteran insects. All fractions killed both representative insects, but with varying degrees. Fractions F2, F4, and F6 killed rootworms very efficiently. 5 μg/cm² of the fractions killed 80-90% of the tested insects. 100% kill was recorded at 10 μg/cm². All fractions killed the tobacco hornworm albeit with variable efficiencies.

Binding of BtC18 Toxins to Specific Brush Border Membrane Proteins from the Midgut of Different Insects

Brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) were prepared from: corn rootworms (WCRW and SCRW), tobacco hornworm (MS), and European corn borer (ECB) according to methods used by Wolfersberger et al. (1987) Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 86A:301-308. Specific amounts (20-MS, 50-ECB, and 120-W/SCRW μg/lane) of BBMV's were loaded and separated by SDS-PAGE. The separated proteins were electro-blotted onto PVDF nylon membranes and were reacted with ¹²⁵ I labeled fractions (F2, F4, F5, and F6) from BtC18, which bind to specific receptors from the BBMV. The radioactive membranes are then exposed on film. Where there's a band there is an interaction with the specific receptor. Evident in this analysis is the broad based interaction of F6 radiolabelled proteins with the various brush border membrane proteins extracted from these pests (Table 2). Based on this observation, F6 appears to have the largest range of activity.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         BtC18                                                                          Protein   BBMV Binding Protein (kDa)                                           fraction  MS     ECB         SCRW  WCRW                                        ______________________________________                                         F2        210    nd          nd    nd                                          P4        210    nd          nd    nd                                                     84    nd          nd    nd                                                     45    nd          nd    nd                                          F5        210    nd          nd    nd                                                    120    nd          nd    nd                                                     60    nd          nd    nd                                                     55    nd          nd    nd                                          F6        210    210         210   nd                                                    120     84         nd    180                                                    60    nd          150   150                                                    45    nd           50    50                                                    40    nd           42    42                                         ______________________________________                                    

Identification of Cry Genes

DNA primers available in the scientific literature enabled the identification of the types of genes present in this BtC-18 isolate. Some of the primers were designed to differentiate between the members of the same family of genes such as Cry1 family, Cry2 genes, Cry3 genes, Cry4 genes and Cry5 gene. These primers were used in PCR analysis to determine the number and kinds of the different genes present in the isolate BtC-18. Seceral genes were determined to be present in BtC-18. The identified genes were Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1B, Cry1C, Cry1D, Cry2A, Cry2B, and a Cry5-like gene designated as Cry1I.

These genes can be grouped into three major families: i) Cry1 family genes encode for proteins toxic to lepidopteran insects only, Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1C, Cry1D, ii) Cry2 genes encode proteins toxic to lepidopteran and dipteran insects, Cry2A and Cry2B, and iii) Cry1B and Cry5 genes encodes proteins toxic against lepidopterous and coleopterans insects. A pool of at least nine genes were present in this single bacterium, which covers the widest range of insecticidal activity recorded in the scientific literature.

Identification of Additional Genes with Potential Insecticidal Activity

In the same manner as the above example, additional genes were discovered to exist in BtC18 which are potentially responsible for giving this strain its broad spectrum of insecticidal activity. Cry1F, Cry1G, Cry1K, and Cry1M were found as well as nematode specific genes, designated nem1, nem3, nem5 and nem7. In addition, a vegetative toxin was discovered in BtC18 which gives a PCR generated band of the size expected for strain BtHD1. This vegetative toxin is produced during vegetative growth and kills black cut worm of corn (BCW).

Cloning of Genes

All the genes detected by PCR in BtC-18, mentioned above, were cloned into BlueScript sk+II plasmid vector. Custom made DNA primers against the toxin domains of the respective genes were used in PCR to amplify and target the N-terminus part of the genes. The amplification products were eluted from the gel, biocleaned and ligated to blunt ended pBlueScript. E. coli was subsequently transformed with this vector, and, recombinants containing the target genes were identified. The positive recombinants were determined using the specific DNA primers and PCR to identify the expected gene products. Recombinants clones were expressed in E. coli and the total cellular proteins of the recombinants were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. For better expression, the genes were cloned into an expression plasmid pTrc99.

Cry1I Gene

Analysis of the Cry1I expression products by SDS-PAGE was performed. Two proteins were produced, a 70 kDa protein and a smaller 58 to 60 kDa protein which are not produced by E. coli transformed with pTrc99 alone. The Cry1I gene was subcloned for the purpose of restriction mapping and DNA sequencing. Three nucleotide sequences of three different segments of the Cry1I gene from BtC-18 were obtained using the dideoxy chain termination method (sequences not shown). The three segments were the 5' and 3' ends of the gene as well as a middle segment. The nucleotide sequence of these three segments of the Cry1I gene from BtC-18 were compared using Blast server to nucleotide sequences of the published sequences of several different Cry5 genes. By this method identities and homologies of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences were determined. The closest relative to the C18 Cry1I gene is that of entomocidus. C18 Cry1I shares 97% nucleotide identity and 92% amino acid identity with the entomodidus Cry5. The complete nucleotide sequence of the C18 Cry1I has been obtained and is represented in FIG. 5 (SEQ ID NO:1).

Cry1I activity Against Rootworm

The C18 Cry1I gene was inserted into the expression vector pTrc99 with IPTG induction. E.coli strain BL21 was transformed with vector plus Cry1I insert and empty vector as a negative control. Once the bacteria had grown to the appropriate cell density, they were pelleted and resuspended in 11 ml of buffer (10 mM MgSO4, 0.3% Tween-20, 2 mM PMSF). The cellular suspension was sonicated and protein extracted. The concentration of the protein extract was ˜45 mg/ml. WCRW (Western Corn Rootworm) larvae were challenged with various concentrations of the protein extract and mortality scored after three days. Results of this assay demonstrates a dramatic increase in WCRW mortality compared to the negative control at doses as low as 2.3 μg/cm². At these levels mortality of the larvae exposed to the extract containing Cry1Ip is up 55% compared to the mortality of the larvae unexposed. At 11.8 μg/cm² the mortality is up 80%. See Table 3. This is clear evidence that Cry1I is one of the constituents in the BtC18 insecticidal arsenal that demonstrates anti-rootworm activity.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                                 Dead      Live              Est. Cry1I                                 Extract vol.                                                                           (WCRW)    (WCRW)   % Mortality                                                                             dose (μg/cm.sup.2)                      ______________________________________                                         0.1 ml  6         2         75      2.3                                        0.5 ml  8         0        100      11.8                                       1.0 ml  8         0        100      22.3                                       2.0 ml  8         0        100      44.7                                       Control 3         12        20      0                                          ______________________________________                                    

Purification of Insecticidal Proteins from BtC-18

FPLC Separation of BtC-18 Crystal Proteins

Protein fractions from BtC-18 were dialyzed, solubilized and then purified on a Mono Q column following the FPLC procedure recommended by the manufacturer:

1. Portions of the fractions were loaded onto the column and eluted using NaCl gradients.

2. Each individual fraction was bioassayed against different insects, analyzed by SDS-PAGE, and ligand binding studies were performed using the midguts of different insects to identify specific receptor proteins.

Isolation of Crystal Proteins from BtC-18.

The bacterium BtC-18 was cultured in liquid sporulation medium (T3-medium) at 30°-32° C. and the crystal proteins were purified according to Lee et al. (1985) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 126:953-960 using the following procedure:

1. The cells were grown to the spore stage. The crystal proteins were released into the medium following autolysis of the cells.

2. The spore-crystal complexes were separated by centrifugation (10,000 rpm, for 10 min at 4° C.). The complex was washed twice each with 1M potassium chloride in deionized water.

3. The pellet was resuspended in distilled water and homogenized with a Dounce homogenizer followed by centrifugation to separate the protein complexes. This step was repeated two times.

4. The pellet (2-4 g) was suspended in a 68% Renografin gradient (9.6 ml of 2% Triton X-100 and 20.4 ml of Renografin). The mixture was homogenized and subjected to sonication 10 times (20 pulses each time).

5. The mixture was centrifugated at 27,000 rpm for 15 hours. The viscous top band on the gradient contained the crystal proteins. The purity of the crystal proteins was checked by microscopic examination.

6. The crystal pellet was resuspended in 30 ml of 55% Renografin, 1% Triton X-100, homogenized with a glass Dounce homogenizer and sonicated 10 times as above.

7. The mixture was centrifugated again at 27,000 rpm for 15 h and the crystal proteins were precipitated as a white pellet.

8. The supernatant was carefully removed and the pellet was washed three times with distilled water before lyophilization.

Solubilization of the Crystal Proteins from BtC-18

Solubilization of the crystal proteins was accomplished according to the methods of Dai et al. (1993) Insect Biochem. Mol. Biol., 23:273-283 and Hofte et al. (1986) Eur. J. Biochem., 161:273-280.

1. 50 μg of the purified crystal proteins were dissolved in 5 ml of the following solution:

Sodium carbonate (pH 9.5) 50 mM

Dithiothreitol (DTT) 10 mM

Phenylmethylsulfonyl Fluoride (PMSF) 5 mM

Ethylenediaminctctraacetate, disodium 10 mM→

The mixture was incubated at 37° C. for 80 min. with continuous shaking.

2. The mixture was spun at 14K rpm for 15 min. and the supernatant was analyzed by SDS-PAGE.

3. The pellet was dissolved in the following solution:

Sodium hydroxide (pH12) 50 mM

Dithiothreitol (DTT) 10 mM

Phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMS) 5 mM and incubated at 37° C./1 hour.

4. The supernatant was collected again by centrifugation at 14k for 15 min.

5. The fractions were dialyzed against Tris-HCl (50 mM, pH 9) containing 50 mM NaCl.

After purification, the proteins are assayed for activity against insects of interest.

All publications and patent applications mentioned in the specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims.

    __________________________________________________________________________     #             SEQUENCE LISTING                                                 - (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                                     -    (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 2                                              - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                           #pairs    (A) LENGTH: 2180 base                                                          (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                 -     (vi) ORIGINAL SOURCE:                                                    #thuringiensisORGANISM: Bacillus                                                         (B) STRAIN: BtC-18                                                   -     (ix) FEATURE:                                                                      (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 1..2160                                                -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:                                  - ATG AAA CTA AAG AAT CCA GAT AAG CAT CAA AC - #G TTG TCT AGC AAT GCG            48                                                                           Met Lys Leu Lys Asn Pro Asp Lys His Gln Th - #r Leu Ser Ser Asn Ala            #                 15                                                           - AAG GTA GAT AAA ATC GCG ACG GAT TCA CTA AA - #A AAT GAA ACA GAT ATA            96                                                                           Lys Val Asp Lys Ile Ala Thr Asp Ser Leu Ly - #s Asn Glu Thr Asp Ile            #             30                                                               - GAA TTG AAA AAT ATG AAT AAT GAA GAT TAT TT - #G AGA ATG TCT GAG CAT           144                                                                           Glu Leu Lys Asn Met Asn Asn Glu Asp Tyr Le - #u Arg Met Ser Glu His            #         45                                                                   - GAG AGT ATT GAT CCG TTT GTT AGT GCA TCA AC - #A ATT CAA ACG GGT ATT           192                                                                           Glu Ser Ile Asp Pro Phe Val Ser Ala Ser Th - #r Ile Gln Thr Gly Ile            #     60                                                                       - GGA ATT GCT GGT AAG ATT CTT GGT ACT CTA GG - #C GTT CCT TTT CCT GGA           240                                                                           Gly Ile Ala Gly Lys Ile Leu Gly Thr Leu Gl - #y Val Pro Phe Pro Gly            # 80                                                                           - CAA ATA GCT AGC CTC TAT AGT TTT ATC TTA GG - #C GAG CTT TGG CCT AAG           288                                                                           Gln Ile Ala Ser Leu Tyr Ser Phe Ile Leu Gl - #y Glu Leu Trp Pro Lys            #                 95                                                           - GGG AAA AGT CAA TGG GAA ATC TTT ATG GAA CA - #T GTA GAA GCG ATT ATT           336                                                                           Gly Lys Ser Gln Trp Glu Ile Phe Met Glu Hi - #s Val Glu Ala Ile Ile            #           110                                                                - AAT CGA AAA ATA TCA ACT TAT GCA AGA AAT AA - #A GCA CTT ACG GAC TTG           384                                                                           Asn Arg Lys Ile Ser Thr Tyr Ala Arg Asn Ly - #s Ala Leu Thr Asp Leu            #       125                                                                    - AAA GGA TTA GGA GAT GCC TTA GCT GTC TAC CA - #T GAA TCG CTT GAA AGT           432                                                                           Lys Gly Leu Gly Asp Ala Leu Ala Val Tyr Hi - #s Glu Ser Leu Glu Ser            #   140                                                                        - TGG GTT GGA AAT CGT AAT AAC ACT CGA GCG AG - #G AGT GTA GTC AAG AAC           480                                                                           Trp Val Gly Asn Arg Asn Asn Thr Arg Ala Ar - #g Ser Val Val Lys Asn            145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -        #60                                                                            - CAA TAT ATC GCA TTA GAA CTG ATG TTT GTT CA - #A AAA CTA CCT TCT TTT           528                                                                           Gln Tyr Ile Ala Leu Glu Leu Met Phe Val Gl - #n Lys Leu Pro Ser Phe            #               175                                                            - GCA GTA TCT GGT GAG GAA GTA CCA TTA TTA CC - #G ATA TAT GCC CAA GCT           576                                                                           Ala Val Ser Gly Glu Glu Val Pro Leu Leu Pr - #o Ile Tyr Ala Gln Ala            #           190                                                                - GCC AAT TTA CAT TTG TTG TTA TTA AGA GAT GC - #A TCT ATT TTT GAA AAG           624                                                                           Ala Asn Leu His Leu Leu Leu Leu Arg Asp Al - #a Ser Ile Phe Glu Lys            #       205                                                                    - AAT GGG GGA TTA TCA GCT TCA GAA ATT TCA AC - #A TTT TAT AAC CGT CAA           672                                                                           Asn Gly Gly Leu Ser Ala Ser Glu Ile Ser Th - #r Phe Tyr Asn Arg Gln            #   220                                                                        - GTC GAA CGA ACA AGA GAT TAT TCC TAC CAT TG - #T GTG AAA TGG AAT AAT           720                                                                           Val Glu Arg Thr Arg Asp Tyr Ser Tyr His Cy - #s Val Lys Trp Asn Asn            225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -        #40                                                                            - ACA GGC CTA AAT AAC TTG AGG GCT ACA AAT GG - #C CAA AGT TGG GTT CGT           768                                                                           Thr Gly Leu Asn Asn Leu Arg Ala Thr Asn Gl - #y Gln Ser Trp Val Arg            #               255                                                            - TAT AAT CAA TTT CGT AAA GAT ATC GAG TTA AT - #G GTA TTA GAT TTA GTT           816                                                                           Tyr Asn Gln Phe Arg Lys Asp Ile Glu Leu Me - #t Val Leu Asp Leu Val            #           270                                                                - CGC GTA TTC CCA AGC TAT GAT ACA CTT GTA TA - #T CCT ATT AAA ACC ACT           864                                                                           Arg Val Phe Pro Ser Tyr Asp Thr Leu Val Ty - #r Pro Ile Lys Thr Thr            #       285                                                                    - TCA CAA CTT ACA AGA GAA GTA TAT ACA GAC GC - #A ATT GGG ACC GTC GAT           912                                                                           Ser Gln Leu Thr Arg Glu Val Tyr Thr Asp Al - #a Ile Gly Thr Val Asp            #   300                                                                        - CCG AAT CAA GCT CTT CGA AGT ACG ACT TGG TA - #T AAT AAT AAT GCA CCT           960                                                                           Pro Asn Gln Ala Leu Arg Ser Thr Thr Trp Ty - #r Asn Asn Asn Ala Pro            305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -        #20                                                                            - TCG TTC TCT GCC ATA GAG GCT GCT GTT ATC CG - #A AGT CCA CAC CTA CTT          1008                                                                           Ser Phe Ser Ala Ile Glu Ala Ala Val Ile Ar - #g Ser Pro His Leu Leu            #               335                                                            - GAT TTT CTA GAA AAA GTT ACA ATT TAC AGC TT - #A TTA AGT CGG TGG AGT          1056                                                                           Asp Phe Leu Glu Lys Val Thr Ile Tyr Ser Le - #u Leu Ser Arg Trp Ser            #           350                                                                - AAT ACT CAG TAT ATG AAT ATG TGG GGA GGA CA - #T AGA CTT GAA TCC CGC          1104                                                                           Asn Thr Gln Tyr Met Asn Met Trp Gly Gly Hi - #s Arg Leu Glu Ser Arg            #       365                                                                    - CCA ATA GGA GGG GCA TTA AAT ACC TCA ACA CA - #A GGA TCT ACC AAT ACT          1152                                                                           Pro Ile Gly Gly Ala Leu Asn Thr Ser Thr Gl - #n Gly Ser Thr Asn Thr            #   380                                                                        - TCG ATT AAT CCA GTA ACA TTA CAG TTC ACG TC - #T CGA GAC TTC TAT AGG          1200                                                                           Ser Ile Asn Pro Val Thr Leu Gln Phe Thr Se - #r Arg Asp Phe Tyr Arg            385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -        #00                                                                            - ACT GAA TCA TGG GCA GGG CTG AAT TTA TTT TT - #A ACT CAA CCT GTT AAT          1248                                                                           Thr Glu Ser Trp Ala Gly Leu Asn Leu Phe Le - #u Thr Gln Pro Val Asn            #               415                                                            - GGA GTG CCT AGA GTT GAT TTC CAT TGG AAA TT - #T CCC ACG CTA CCA ATA          1296                                                                           Gly Val Pro Arg Val Asp Phe His Trp Lys Ph - #e Pro Thr Leu Pro Ile            #           430                                                                - GCA TCT GAT AAT TTT TAT TAT CTA GGG TAT GC - #T GGA GTT GGT ACG CAA          1344                                                                           Ala Ser Asp Asn Phe Tyr Tyr Leu Gly Tyr Al - #a Gly Val Gly Thr Gln            #       445                                                                    - TTA CAA GAT TCA GAA AAT GAA TTA CCA CCT GA - #A ACA ACA GGA CAG CCA          1392                                                                           Leu Gln Asp Ser Glu Asn Glu Leu Pro Pro Gl - #u Thr Thr Gly Gln Pro            #   460                                                                        - AAT TAT GAA TCA TAT AGT CAT AGA TTA TCC CA - #T ATA GGA CTC ATT TCA          1440                                                                           Asn Tyr Glu Ser Tyr Ser His Arg Leu Ser Hi - #s Ile Gly Leu Ile Ser            465                 4 - #70                 4 - #75                 4 -        #80                                                                            - GGA TCC CAC GTG AAA GCA TTG GTA TAT TCT TG - #G ACA CAT CGT AGT GCA          1488                                                                           Gly Ser His Val Lys Ala Leu Val Tyr Ser Tr - #p Thr His Arg Ser Ala            #               495                                                            - GAT CGT ACA AAT ACA ATT GAG CCA AAT AGC AT - #T ACA CAA ATA CCA TTA          1536                                                                           Asp Arg Thr Asn Thr Ile Glu Pro Asn Ser Il - #e Thr Gln Ile Pro Leu            #           510                                                                - GTA AAA GCG TTC AAT CTG TCT TCA GGT GCC GC - #T GTA GTG AGA GGA CCA          1584                                                                           Val Lys Ala Phe Asn Leu Ser Ser Gly Ala Al - #a Val Val Arg Gly Pro            #       525                                                                    - GGA TTT ACA GGT GGG CAT ATC CTT CGA AGA AC - #G AAA TCT GGT ACA TTT          1632                                                                           Gly Phe Thr Gly Gly His Ile Leu Arg Arg Th - #r Lys Ser Gly Thr Phe            #   540                                                                        - GGG CAT ATA CGA GTA AAT ATT AAT CCA CCA TT - #T GCT CAA AGA TAT CGC          1680                                                                           Gly His Ile Arg Val Asn Ile Asn Pro Pro Ph - #e Ala Gln Arg Tyr Arg            545                 5 - #50                 5 - #55                 5 -        #60                                                                            - GTG AGG ATG TCC TAT GCT TCT ACT ACA GAT TT - #A CAA TTC CAT ACG TCA          1728                                                                           Val Arg Met Ser Tyr Ala Ser Thr Thr Asp Le - #u Gln Phe His Thr Ser            #               575                                                            - ATT AAC GGT AAA GCT ATT AAT CAA GGT AAT TT - #T TCA GCA ACT ATG AAT          1776                                                                           Ile Asn Gly Lys Ala Ile Asn Gln Gly Asn Ph - #e Ser Ala Thr Met Asn            #           590                                                                - AGA GGA GAG GAC TTA GAC TAT AAA ACC TTT AG - #A ACT GTA GGC TTT ACC          1824                                                                           Arg Gly Glu Asp Leu Asp Tyr Lys Thr Phe Ar - #g Thr Val Gly Phe Thr            #       605                                                                    - ACT CCA TTT AGC TTT TCA GAT GTA CAA AGT AC - #A TTC ACA ATA GGT GCT          1872                                                                           Thr Pro Phe Ser Phe Ser Asp Val Gln Ser Th - #r Phe Thr Ile Gly Ala            #   620                                                                        - TGG AAC TTC TCT TCA GGT AAC GAA GTT TAT AT - #A GGT CGA ATT GAA TTT          1920                                                                           Trp Asn Phe Ser Ser Gly Asn Glu Val Tyr Il - #e Gly Arg Ile Glu Phe            625                 6 - #30                 6 - #35                 6 -        #40                                                                            - GTT CCG GTA GAA GTA ACA TAT GAG GCA GAA TA - #T GAT TTT GAA AAA GCG          1968                                                                           Val Pro Val Glu Val Thr Tyr Glu Ala Glu Ty - #r Asp Phe Glu Lys Ala            #               655                                                            - CAA GAG AAG GTT ACT GCA CTG TTT ACA TCT AC - #G AAT CCA AGA GGA TTA          2016                                                                           Gln Glu Lys Val Thr Ala Leu Phe Thr Ser Th - #r Asn Pro Arg Gly Leu            #           670                                                                - AAA ACA GAT GTA AAG GAT TAT CAT ATT GAC CA - #G GTA TCA AAT TTA GTA          2064                                                                           Lys Thr Asp Val Lys Asp Tyr His Ile Asp Gl - #n Val Ser Asn Leu Val            #       685                                                                    - GAG TCT CTA TCA GAT GAA CTC TAT CTT GAT GA - #A AAG AGA GAA TTA TTC          2112                                                                           Glu Ser Leu Ser Asp Glu Leu Tyr Leu Asp Gl - #u Lys Arg Glu Leu Phe            #   700                                                                        - GAG ATA GTT AAA TAC GCG AAG CAA ATC CAT AT - #T GAG CGT AAC ATG TAG          2160                                                                           Glu Ile Val Lys Tyr Ala Lys Gln Ile His Il - #e Glu Arg Asn Met  *             705                 7 - #10                 7 - #15                 7 -        #20                                                                            #                 218 - #0                                                     - (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:                                             -      (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                     (A) LENGTH:  719 ami - #no acids                                               (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                 -     (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                              -     (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:                                  - Met Lys Leu Lys Asn Pro Asp Lys His Gln Th - #r Leu Ser Ser Asn Ala          #                 15                                                           - Lys Val Asp Lys Ile Ala Thr Asp Ser Leu Ly - #s Asn Glu Thr Asp Ile          #             30                                                               - Glu Leu Lys Asn Met Asn Asn Glu Asp Tyr Le - #u Arg Met Ser Glu His          #         45                                                                   - Glu Ser Ile Asp Pro Phe Val Ser Ala Ser Th - #r Ile Gln Thr Gly Ile          #     60                                                                       - Gly Ile Ala Gly Lys Ile Leu Gly Thr Leu Gl - #y Val Pro Phe Pro Gly          # 80                                                                           - Gln Ile Ala Ser Leu Tyr Ser Phe Ile Leu Gl - #y Glu Leu Trp Pro Lys          #                 95                                                           - Gly Lys Ser Gln Trp Glu Ile Phe Met Glu Hi - #s Val Glu Ala Ile Ile          #           110                                                                - Asn Arg Lys Ile Ser Thr Tyr Ala Arg Asn Ly - #s Ala Leu Thr Asp Leu          #       125                                                                    - Lys Gly Leu Gly Asp Ala Leu Ala Val Tyr Hi - #s Glu Ser Leu Glu Ser          #   140                                                                        - Trp Val Gly Asn Arg Asn Asn Thr Arg Ala Ar - #g Ser Val Val Lys Asn          145                 1 - #50                 1 - #55                 1 -        #60                                                                            - Gln Tyr Ile Ala Leu Glu Leu Met Phe Val Gl - #n Lys Leu Pro Ser Phe          #               175                                                            - Ala Val Ser Gly Glu Glu Val Pro Leu Leu Pr - #o Ile Tyr Ala Gln Ala          #           190                                                                - Ala Asn Leu His Leu Leu Leu Leu Arg Asp Al - #a Ser Ile Phe Glu Lys          #       205                                                                    - Asn Gly Gly Leu Ser Ala Ser Glu Ile Ser Th - #r Phe Tyr Asn Arg Gln          #   220                                                                        - Val Glu Arg Thr Arg Asp Tyr Ser Tyr His Cy - #s Val Lys Trp Asn Asn          225                 2 - #30                 2 - #35                 2 -        #40                                                                            - Thr Gly Leu Asn Asn Leu Arg Ala Thr Asn Gl - #y Gln Ser Trp Val Arg          #               255                                                            - Tyr Asn Gln Phe Arg Lys Asp Ile Glu Leu Me - #t Val Leu Asp Leu Val          #           270                                                                - Arg Val Phe Pro Ser Tyr Asp Thr Leu Val Ty - #r Pro Ile Lys Thr Thr          #       285                                                                    - Ser Gln Leu Thr Arg Glu Val Tyr Thr Asp Al - #a Ile Gly Thr Val Asp          #   300                                                                        - Pro Asn Gln Ala Leu Arg Ser Thr Thr Trp Ty - #r Asn Asn Asn Ala Pro          305                 3 - #10                 3 - #15                 3 -        #20                                                                            - Ser Phe Ser Ala Ile Glu Ala Ala Val Ile Ar - #g Ser Pro His Leu Leu          #               335                                                            - Asp Phe Leu Glu Lys Val Thr Ile Tyr Ser Le - #u Leu Ser Arg Trp Ser          #           350                                                                - Asn Thr Gln Tyr Met Asn Met Trp Gly Gly Hi - #s Arg Leu Glu Ser Arg          #       365                                                                    - Pro Ile Gly Gly Ala Leu Asn Thr Ser Thr Gl - #n Gly Ser Thr Asn Thr          #   380                                                                        - Ser Ile Asn Pro Val Thr Leu Gln Phe Thr Se - #r Arg Asp Phe Tyr Arg          385                 3 - #90                 3 - #95                 4 -        #00                                                                            - Thr Glu Ser Trp Ala Gly Leu Asn Leu Phe Le - #u Thr Gln Pro Val Asn          #               415                                                            - Gly Val Pro Arg Val Asp Phe His Trp Lys Ph - #e Pro Thr Leu Pro Ile          #           430                                                                - Ala Ser Asp Asn Phe Tyr Tyr Leu Gly Tyr Al - #a Gly Val Gly Thr Gln          #       445                                                                    - Leu Gln Asp Ser Glu Asn Glu Leu Pro Pro Gl - #u Thr Thr Gly Gln Pro          #   460                                                                        - Asn Tyr Glu Ser Tyr Ser His Arg Leu Ser Hi - #s Ile Gly Leu Ile Ser          465                 4 - #70                 4 - #75                 4 -        #80                                                                            - Gly Ser His Val Lys Ala Leu Val Tyr Ser Tr - #p Thr His Arg Ser Ala          #               495                                                            - Asp Arg Thr Asn Thr Ile Glu Pro Asn Ser Il - #e Thr Gln Ile Pro Leu          #           510                                                                - Val Lys Ala Phe Asn Leu Ser Ser Gly Ala Al - #a Val Val Arg Gly Pro          #       525                                                                    - Gly Phe Thr Gly Gly His Ile Leu Arg Arg Th - #r Lys Ser Gly Thr Phe          #   540                                                                        - Gly His Ile Arg Val Asn Ile Asn Pro Pro Ph - #e Ala Gln Arg Tyr Arg          545                 5 - #50                 5 - #55                 5 -        #60                                                                            - Val Arg Met Ser Tyr Ala Ser Thr Thr Asp Le - #u Gln Phe His Thr Ser          #               575                                                            - Ile Asn Gly Lys Ala Ile Asn Gln Gly Asn Ph - #e Ser Ala Thr Met Asn          #           590                                                                - Arg Gly Glu Asp Leu Asp Tyr Lys Thr Phe Ar - #g Thr Val Gly Phe Thr          #       605                                                                    - Thr Pro Phe Ser Phe Ser Asp Val Gln Ser Th - #r Phe Thr Ile Gly Ala          #   620                                                                        - Trp Asn Phe Ser Ser Gly Asn Glu Val Tyr Il - #e Gly Arg Ile Glu Phe          625                 6 - #30                 6 - #35                 6 -        #40                                                                            - Val Pro Val Glu Val Thr Tyr Glu Ala Glu Ty - #r Asp Phe Glu Lys Ala          #               655                                                            - Gln Glu Lys Val Thr Ala Leu Phe Thr Ser Th - #r Asn Pro Arg Gly Leu          #           670                                                                - Lys Thr Asp Val Lys Asp Tyr His Ile Asp Gl - #n Val Ser Asn Leu Val          #       685                                                                    - Glu Ser Leu Ser Asp Glu Leu Tyr Leu Asp Gl - #u Lys Arg Glu Leu Phe          #   700                                                                        - Glu Ile Val Lys Tyr Ala Lys Gln Ile His Il - #e Glu Arg Asn Met              705                 7 - #10                 7 - #15                 7 -        #20                                                                            __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleotidc sequence encoding the protein of SEQ ID NO:2 or a pesticidally active fragment thereof.
 2. The nucleotide sequence of claim 1, said sequence having the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1.
 3. A chimeric gene comprising a promoter operable in a plant cell operably linked to a nucleotide sequence encoding the Cry1I protein, said protein having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2.
 4. The chimeric gene of claim 3 wherein said nucleotide sequence encoding the Cry1I protein is the sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1.
 5. A plant transformed with the nucleotide sequence of claim
 1. 6. A plant stably transformed with the gene of claim
 3. 7. A plant stably transformed with the gene of claim
 4. 8. Seed of the plant of claim
 5. 9. Seed of the plant of claim
 6. 10. Seed of the plant of claim
 7. 